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With a little over 48 hours to go until the curtain raises on Brentford’s landmark first season’s adventure in the Premier League, like most of you, and if the result of the Beesotted fans’ poll this week is anything to go by, I’m full of excitement and a modest sense of confidence.

Almost 1500 fans voted to give their thoughts on Brentford’s chances for the season ahead, with 93% predicting we’d survive the drop, or flourish, which is in stark contrast to many of the professional pundits who have been quick to paint a far gloomier picture.

Admittedly, we shouldn’t be too surprised that the majority of the press fear the worst for Thomas Frank and the lads, as the task of staying up is indeed going to be a tough one… and as reassuring as it is to read the people who know their side the best feel The Bees will be okay, anyone who has a decent knowledge of The Prem has witnessed the promoted sides struggle, on the whole – year in, year out.

We have to continue bucking trends and punching high, focussing on our strengths and not changing the philosophies of an attack-minded mentality. Not that I think there’s much of a chance of that based on the noises coming out of the TW8 camp.We have no intention of just making up the numbers and have not only come to compete, we are here to contribute too.

As fans it’s fine, and only natural, to feel like a kid on Christmas Day morning… looking open-mouthed at a huge pile of presents to unwrap, and Friday night’s fixture against Arsenal is a pressie we want to rip the paper off quickly and get stuck into. We’ve waited too long for a night like this and the players, I’m sure, will rise to the occasion.

The majority of those polled (50%) believe Brentford will finish 2021/22 in that lower half of the table comfort zone, with a sizeable 35% feeling it’s going to be a bit more squeaky bum that that, but that we will ultimately survive by the skin of our teeth. I’d take both scenarios right now if that’s an option… as 7% of you think we’ll be one season wonders and are headed back to the Championship.

I’m also fascinated by an almost equal number (8%) of people who think we will fly at a higher level and could end the campaign in the top half of the table. Boy, wouldn’t that be an achievement. For that to happen we’d be witnessing (not so much a miracle) one of the biggest upsets the game has seen in recent years and a proper dream come true. I’ll drink to that.

Friday’s result will go some way to giving an indicator as to whether that’s a possibility.

Dave Lane
@beesotted100